We spend a great deal of money on our smartphones. One of the first things you should do when you get a new phone is set it up so that in case it is lost or stolen you have a way to track it and possibly recover it.
Our phones contain a record of our lives. They are not just for texting and calling but are really mini-computers that hold all of our personal information, if your smartphone ends up in the wrong hands it can lead to personal and identity theft.
Steps to Secure your Phone
Inventory List:
Keep a household inventory list that contains all of the information about each appliance, computer, smartphone and other items you own.
For a smartphone log the place and date of purchase, the amount of the purchase, the make and model of the phone, the serial number and the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) or MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier) number.
Password and Biometric Security:
Enable both, have as many security settings in place as possible.
Both Apple and Android phones will lock you out after so many failed login attempts, and both have an erase feature that will automatically erase your personal data after a set number of failed login attempts. The feature is not turned on by default, go to the settings menu and enable it.
Enable Find my Phone
When this setting is enabled, you can use a computer or other device to locate your phone if it turns up missing.
For find my phone to work the phone must be turned on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, and location tracking must be enabled. The last known location can also be reported.
You can also choose to share your location with friends and family and locate your device even when it is offline.
Put a Note in the Phone Case: Tuck a note inside of the phone case with your name and a family members phone number. You can also add a secondary number such as a work phone number where you can be reached.
Display Contact Information on Lock Screen: You can use the emergency contact setting to display a name and number on the lock screen.
This setting is intended to be used to display the name of the person to contact in case of an emergency, but can be used to display other information as well.
Steps to Take After Your Phone is Lost or Stolen
You want to act quickly when you realize your phone is gone. If a thief has your phone, they know you will be looking for it and trying to recover it or wipe it clean. They can remove the SIM card and make sure it is not connected to a wireless connection to prevent you from gaining access.
Call Your Phone: Maybe you have just misplaced the phone. Call your number and send a text. If it is within reach, you will hear it.
Use Find my Phone: For an Android phone use Google’s Find My Device. For an iPhone, go to iCloud Find My iPhone.
Use those services to send a sound to the phone, display a message on the lock screen or erase the data on the device.
Notify your Service Provider: Notify your carrier of the loss, they can suspend your service until you locate your phone or purchase a new one.
File a Police Report: You may or may not get your phone returned to you if you file a police report, but you will need a record of the loss if the phone is used for illegal activity or if you incur fraudulent charges or identity theft in the future.
Change your Passwords: If a thief has your phone, they can potentially gain access to all of your personal information, including your passwords and security questions for the websites you visit. Change all of your passwords and security questions.
Contact your Bank, Credit Card Company and Others you do Business with: Report the loss to those you do business with so that they are aware your accounts may be in danger. You can ask the bank and credit card companies to issue new cards.
Insurance: If you have insurance coverage for your phone contact the company. Also contact your provider to find out if they cover any of the replacement costs. If you use a credit card to pay your monthly phone bill, contact them, some offer replacement coverage at no cost to you.
The Tech Minimalist 